Fuel-feed system for internal-combustion engines of automobiles



L. P. BARLOW Dec. 16, 1930.

FUEL FEED SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES OF AUTOMOBILES Filed Oct. 2, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l W4 zfffiarlaw, by W fl/mwwmy L. P. BARLOW Dec. 16, 1930.

FUEL FEED SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES OF AUTOMOBILES Filed Oct. 2, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented 'Dec. 16, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LESTER r. BARLOW, or memoir, MICHIGAN Application filed October 2, 1929. Serial No. 396,891.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in fuel feed systems for internal combustion engines of automobiles wherein a pump is employed to draw fuel from a main tank and force said fuel upwardly into an auxiliary or gravity tank from which the fuel is delivered by gravity to a carbureter located at a level below said auxiliary tank.

Among the several objects of my invention are to provide a vacuum connection between the auxiliary or gravity tank and the engine for drawing the initial charge of liquid fuel into said auxiliary tank; to provide means for controlling both the vacuum connection and the air vent of the auxiliary tank whereby during normal operations of the engine the former will be closed and the latter will be open to permit the pump to function, and whereby upon movement of said controlling means the vacuum connection will be opened and the air vent will be closed to thereby subject t e fuel feed connection between the main an auxiliary tanks to the action of the vacuum connection and effect a fillingof the auxiliary tank with fuel; to provide a control valve in the auxiliary tank for automatically closin the fuel inlet upon the fuel reaching a pre etermined level and for automatically opening said inlet whenever said level drops;

to provide a by-pass in the pump for auto-" matically by-passing thefuel in the pump whenever the fuel inlet valve of the auxiliary tank is closed; to provide a check valve in the feed connection between the auxiliary tank and the carburetor for preventing air being drawn into the tank from the carbureter when the vacuum connection is open; to'provide a single manually operable valve for controlling the vacuum connection and the air vent of the auxiliary tank, and to provide a sufficient tolerance between said manually 0perable valve and its seat to permit fuel vapors in the auxiliary tank being carried off through the vacuum connection when said valve is in its normal position.

\Vith these and other objects in view which will more fully'appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by 69 following the description, the appended claims, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a more or'less diagrammatic view showing the application of my invention to an internal combustion engine of an automobile,

Figure 2 is an enlar ed vertical sectional view through the auxi iary or gravity fuel tank, the view showing the control valve in 00 normal position closing the vacuum connection and opening the air vent,

Figure 3 is a top plan view thereof,

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the float located within the gravity tank and showing 5 particularly the manner of pivotally supporting the same,

)F i ure 5 is an enlarged detail section showing t e control valve in-its moved or abnormal position whereb the vacuum connec- 70 tion is open and the air vent is closed.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the control valve, and Y Figure 7 is a similar view but looking at the 'valve from another angle.

Like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, there is shown an internal combustion engine A having an intake manifold B, a carbureter C 'operatively connected with the intake manifold, a main fuel tank D for containing gasoline or other liquid fuel, an auxiliary or gravity tank E which is located in a plane above the carbureter C, and a pump F which is preferably of the type shown in my patent for improvements in rotary pumps, No. 1,738,345, Dec. 3, 1929.

The main fuel tank D is provided with the usual air vent 5, and a pipe line or fuel coniiection, connects the main tank D with the carbureter C. This fuel connection includes a pipe 6 which communicates with the main supply tank D and with the suction side of the pump F, a pipe 7 which communicates with the discharge side of the pump F and with the upper end of the auxiliary or gravity tank E,-and a pipe 8 which connects the bottom of the auxiliary or gravity tank E with the carbureter. A vacuum connection or pipe 9 is connected to the upper end of the auxiliary or gravity tank E and to the intake manifold B.

The tank E includes a bottom 10, a peripheral wall 11, and a removable cover 12. The cover 12 is provided with an enlarged portion 13 in which is formed a vertical opening 14. A nipple 15 is threaded into the upper end of the opening 14 and is connected to the feed pipe 7 by a coupling 16. The opening 14 constitutes an inlet for the liquid fuel, and mounted in the lower end of this opening 14 is a bushing 17 forming a seat for a vertically movable needle valve 18 having av pointed upper end 19 which cooperates with a vertical passage ,20 in said bushing to open or close the fuel inlet, depending upon the position of the valve 18. A-fioat 21 is pivotally mounted as at 22 to a support 23 depending from the cover 12. This float supports the vertically movable valve 18, and functions to automatically maintain the liquid fuel within the tank E at a predetermined level therein.

The cover 12 is formed with a second enlarged portion 24 and formed therein is a vertically disposed opening 25 forming a seat for a vertically movable valve 26. The enlarged portion 24 is provided with a recess 27 in its periphery for receiving the end of the vacuum connection or pipe 9, and a pas sage 2S'which is in open communication with the recess 27 and with the valve seat 25.

Also formed'in the enlarged portion 24 of.

the cover is a passage or air vent 29 which communicates with the valve seat 25 and with the atmosphere. The valve 26 is formed on one side and between the ends thereof with a recess or passage 30, and the valve on the other side is formed at its lower end with a recess or passage 31 extending downwardly to the bottom of the valve. In the normal position of the valve 26, as shown in Figure 2, the recess or passage 30 is in open communication with the vacuum connection 9, but is closed from communication with the interior of the tank E by reason of the lower portion 32 of the valve being disposed below the recess 30. In this normal position of the valve,

the recess or passage 31 forms open-communication between the atmosphere and the interior of the tank E.

The valve 26 is held in its normal position by means of a coil spring33 which is located 39, the latter being positioned within the slot 35 of the valve and having a sliding fit therein. Connected to the operating arm 38 is a link 40 which preferably extends rearwardly through the panel board 41 of the automobile and is provided at its rearward end with a pull knob 42. IVhen the operator pulls the link 40, the bell crank lever 36 is rocked to move the arm 39 downwardly whereupon the valve 26 will be moved downwardly against the tension of the spring 33. Immediately upon release by the operator, the spring 33 will automatically return the valve to its normal position, and in this upward movement of the valve the lever'36 will be returned to its normal position. In order to limit the upward movement of the valve by the influence of the spring 33, I have provided the lever 36 with a stop shoulder 43 which is adapted to engage a stop surface 44 formed on the cover 12, as shown in Figure 1.

A check valve 45 is positioned in the feed pipe or connection 8 and seats in a direction toward the tank E so as to permit fuel to gravitate through said pipe to the carbureter but preventing air and fuel being drawn upwardly from the carbureter into the tank E whenever the vacuum connection 9 is open.

During the normal or running operation of the engine, the parts are in the position as shown in Figure 2, wherein the valve 26 closes the vacuum connection 9 and opens the air vent 29. The pump F, which is-geared to the engine in the usual manner, draws fuel from the main tank D and forces said fuel upwardly into the auxiliary or gravity tank E through the inlet 14, providing the liquid level has dropped below the predetermined level thereof. As soon as the level has been reached, the float 21 raises the valve 18 to close the fuel inlet 14'. When the inlet valve 18 is thus closed, the pump cannot force any more fuel into theauxiliary tank E, the fuel drawn from'the main tank E being bypassed in the pump in the manner disclosed in my patent referred toabove.

The vacuum produced by the engine is employed to draw the initial charge of fuel into the gravity tank. By using the vacuum of theengine, I reduce the time which would otherwise be necessary to pump fuel to the auxiliary tank by the small pump. The pump being of small capacit requires a considerable period of time to orce sufficient.

fuel into the tank to start the engine. In order for the pump to function, it is necessary to turn the engine either by an electnic starter or b a' hand crank, but either of these metho s is slow in forcing the fuel into the auxiliary tank, whereas by employing the engine vacuum the auxiliary tank can be quickly filled. Therefore, when it is desired to employ the engine vacuum, valve 26 is manu depressed against the tension of the spring 33 so as to open the vacuum connection 9 with the interior of the auxiliary tank, and simultaneously close the air vent 29. The operator continues to hold the valve in its depressed or abnormal position and consequently the engine vacuum will draw liquid fuel from the main tank into the gravity tank until a predetermined fuel level is reached within the tank at which time the valve 18 through the medium of the float 21 automatically closes the fuel inlet opening 14. It is immaterial that the operator continues to hold the valve 26 in its depressed position after the auxiliary tank has been filled to the predetermined level for the reason that the engine vacuum will not function because the fuel inlet 14 is closed as well as the air vent 29. Upon release of the pull knob 42 by the operator, the spring 33 will function to automatically return the valve 26 to its normal position, thereby closing the vacuum connection 9 and opening the air vent 29.

The automobile engine operates at a variable speed and the fuel pump when geared to the engine will have a correspondingly variable speed. Therefore, a pump when operating at a variable speed will increase or decrease the amount of liquid fuel being pumped and will also create a change in pressures. Although various means for bypassing excess fuel may be employed or special devices for regulating pressures may be employed, it is practically impossible to maintain an absolutely constant pressure of fuel in the carbureter. By using the gravity or auxiliary tank wherein the fuel level in the tank is maintained at a constant predetermined level, and by having said tank open to the atmosphere, a constant predetermined pressure in the carbureter is insured.

S stems heretofore employed which inclu ed a pump for forcing the liquid fuel to the carbureter, have been unable to avoid the introduction of air which is carried by the liquid fuel into the carbureter. An automobile under motion causes the liquid fuel in the main tank to surge and splash against the sides of the tank. This causes the fuel to be aerated and the small air bubbles are picked up by the fuel stream and carried through the pump to the carbureter with the result that it is impossible to obtain the proper fuel mixture at the carbureter jet. Furthermore, the tension of the pump on the liquid fuel being drawn from the main tank causes the generation of gas bubbles in the fuel stream and this condition is aggravated particularly during hot weather. These bubbles vary in length with the result that the free gas and air in the system may become so great as tocause pump failure and consequently engine failure. By discharging these vapors and air together with the liquid fuel into the auxiliary tank, which is normal- 1y open to the atmosphere, the vapor and air are released from the liquid stream, and consequently the liquid fuel when being duecharged from the carbureter nozzle or et is substantially free of air and vapor.

Furthermore, in fuel systems employing pumps, it quite often happens that foreign matter in the fuel will cause the pump valves, either the inlet or discharge valves, or a bypass valve, to fail to seat and this failure results not only in pump failure but also in engine a failure. Immediate relief under these circumstances may be obtained by my invention as a result of the operator depressing the valve 26 so as to open the vacuum connection 9 and close the air vent 29. This causes-the engine vacuum to draw the liquid fuel rapidly from the main tank through the pump and thereby wash the foreign particles from the pump valves. The valve 26 is fitted to its seat with a tolerance sufficient to permit vapors being carried from the auxiliary tank into the vacuum connection 9. This is very important in that it prevents the fumes from passing into the passenger compartment of the car. This leak through the vacuum connection is much smaller in area than the air vent and consequently there is no tendency to lower the pressure in the auxiliary tank to any appreciable degree.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that means is provided for preventing fuel vapors from reaching the passenger compartment of an-automobile by conducting such Vapors into an engine where they are burned; that the engine vacuum is employed for priming the system; that when the engine vacuum is employed the pump valves may be washed to remove any foreign matter; that the air and gasbound pump may be relieved immediately; that a constant and predetermined pressure in the carbureter is obtained by maintainin a constant predetermined level in the auxi iary tank, and that the float valve in the auxiliary tank performs the double function (1) of preventing liquid fuel being drawn into the engine through the valve 26 by the engine vacuum, and (2) of preventing liquid fuel from being forced by the pump into the auxiliary tank above a predetermined level.

It will be also apparent that the carbureter C is a fuel container and that the auxiliary tank E is a fuel container; that one of these containers is provided with an air vent and is located in a fuel connection between the intake manifold and the main tank; that said connection includes the pump or its equivalent; that one of the containers is provided with a vacuum connection to the intake manifold; that valve means is provided in one of said containers for normally closing the vacuum connection and opening the air vent, and that means is provided for moving the valve means to open the vacuum connection and to close the air vent.

,It is, of course, to be understood that the details of structure and arrangements of parts may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a fuel feed system, the combination with an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold, of a carbureter connected to said manifold, a main supply fuel tank, a fuel feed connection between the main tank and thecarbureter including a fuel pump and an auxiliary fuel tank having an air vent, a vacuum connection between the auxiliary tank and the intake manifold, valve means for the auxiliary tank normally closing the vacuum connection and opening the air vent, and means for moving said valve means to open the vacuum connection and close the air vent.

2. In a fuel feed system, the combination with an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold, of a carbureter connected to said manifold, a main supply fuel tank, a fuel feed connection between the main tank and the carbureter including a fuel pump and an auxiliary fuel tank having an air vent, a vacuum connection between the auxiliary tank and the intake manifold, valve means for the auxiliary tank normally closing the vacuum connection and opening the air vent, means for moving said valve means to open the vacuum connection and close the air vent, and means for automatically returning said valve means to normal position upon release of said valve moving means.

3. In a fuel feed system, the combination with an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold, of a carbureter connected to said manifold, a main supply fuel tank, a fuel feed connection between the main tank andthe carbureter including a fuel pump and an auxiliary fuel tank having an air vent, a vacuum connection between the auxiliary tank and the intake manifold, valve means for the auxiliary tank normally closing the vacuum connection and opening the air vent, and manually operable means includinga lever connected to the valve means for opening the vacuum connection and closing the air vent.

4. I11 a fuel feed system, the combination with 'an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold, of a carbureter connectedto said manifold, a main supply fuel tank, a fuel feed connection between the main tank and the carbureter including a fuel pump and an auxiliary fuel tank having an air vent, a vacuum connection between the auxiliary tank and the intake manifold, valve means for the auxiliary tank normally closing the vacuum connection and opening the air vent, manually operable means including a lever connected to the valve means for opening the vacuum connection and closing the air vent, and means for automatically returning said valve means to normal position upon release of said valve moving means.

5. In a fuel feed system, the combination with an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold, of a carbureter connected to said manifold, a main supply fuel tank having an air vent, a fuel feed connection between the main tank and the carbureter including a fuel pump and an auxiliary fuel tank having an air vent and a fuel inlet, the pump being disposed intermediate the tanks, a vacuum connection between the auxiliary tank and the intake manifold, a control valve for the auxiliary tank cooperating with the fuel inlet for automatically closin said inlet when the fuel in the auxiliary tan reaches a predetermined level and for automatically opening said inlet when the fuel drops below said level, a valve means in the auxiliary tank normally closing the vacuum connection and opening the air vent, and means for moving said valve means to open the vacuum connection and close the air vent.

6. In a fuel feed system, the combination with an internal combustion engine havin an intake manifold, of a carbureter connecte to said manifold, a main supply fuel tank having an air vent, a fuel feed connection be tween the main tank and the carbureter including a fuel pump and an auxiliary fuel tank having an air vent and a fuel inlet, the pump being disposed intermediate the tanks, a vacuum connection between the auxiliary tank and the intake manifold, a control valve for the auxiliary tank cooperating with the fuel inlet for automatically closing said inlet when the fuel in the auxiliary tank reaches a predetermined level and for automatically opening said inlet when the fuel drops below said level, a valve means in the auxiliary tank normally closing the vacuum connection and opening the air vent, means for moving said valve means to open the vacuum connection and close the air vent, and means for automatically returning said valve means to normal position upon release of said valve moving means.

In a fuel feed system, the combination with an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold, of a carbureter connected to said manifold, a main supply fueltank having an air vent, a fuel feed connection between the main tank and the carbureter including a fuel pump and an auxiliary fuel tank having an air vent and a fuel inlet, the pump being disposed intermediate the tanks, a vacuum connection between the auxiliary tank and the intake manifold, a control valve for the auxiliary tank cooperating with the fuel inlet for automatically closing said inlet when the fuel in the auxiliary tank reaches a predetermined level and for automatically opening said inlet when the fuel drops below said level, a single valve element in the auxiliary tank normally closing the vacuum connection and opening the air vent, manually operable means including a lever connected to the valve element for opening the vacuum connection and closing the an vent, and means for automatically returning said valve element to normal position upon release of said manually operable means.

8. In a fuel feed system, the combination with an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold, of a carbureter connected to said manifold, a main supply fuel tank having an air vent, a fuel feed connection between the main tank and the carbureter including a fuel pump and an auxiliary fuel tank having an air vent, a vacuum connection between the auxiliary tank and the intake manifold, a control valve for the auxiliary tank cooperatin with the fuel inlet for antomatically closlng said inlet when the fuel in the auxiliary tank reaches a predetermined level and for automatically opening said inlet when the fuel drops below said level, the pump being operatively connected to the engine, a valve means in the auxiliary" tank normally closing the vacuum connection and opening the air vent, and means for moving said valve means to open the vacuum connection and close the air vent.

9. In a fuel feed system, the combination with an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold, of a carbureter connected to said manifold, a main supply fuel tank having an air vent, a fuelfeed connection between the main tank and the carbureter including a fuel pump and an auxiliary fuel tank having an air vent, a vacuum connection between the auxiliary tank and the intake manifold, a control valve for the auxiliary tank cooperating with the fuel inlet for automatically closin said inlet when the fuel in the auxiliary tan reaches a predetermined leve and for automatically openin said inlet w en the fuel drops below said leve the pump being operatively connected to the engine and having a by-pass automatically operable when the fuel eed connection 15 closed by the inlet controlling valve to bypass the fuel at the pump, a valve means in the auxiliary tank normally closing the vacuum connection and opening the air vent, and

means for moving said valve means to open the vacuum connection and close the air vent.

10. In a fuelfeed system, the combination with an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold, of a carbureter connected to said manifold, a main supply fuel tank, a fuel feed connection between the main tank and the carbureter including a fuel pump and an auxiliary fuel tank having an air vent, a vacuum connection between the auxiliary tank and the intake manifold, valve means for the auxiliary tank normally closing the vacuum connection and opening the air vent, means for moving said valve means to open the vacuum connection and close the air vent, and a check valve in the fuel feed connection between the carbureter and the auxiliary tank and operable to prevent flow of fuel and air from the carbureter to the auxiliary tank when the vacuum connection is open.

11. In a fuel feed system, the combination with an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold, of a carburetor connected to said manifold, a main supply fuel tank, a fuel feed connection between the main tank and the carbureter including a fuel pump and an auxiliary fuel tank having an air Vent, a vacuum connection between the auxiliary tank and the intake manifold, a single 'valve element mounted in a seat in the auxiliary tank and normally closing the vacuum connection and opening the air vent, and means for moving said single valve element to open the vacuum connection and close the air vent, the fit between the valve element and seat having suflicient tolerance to carry off vapors through the vacuum connection when the valve element is in its normal position.

12. In a fuel feed system, the combination of an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold, of a main supply fuel tank, a fuel container having an air vent, a fuel feed connection between the container and the main tank including a pump, a vacuum connection between the container and the intake manifold, valve means for the auxiliary tank normally closing the vacuum connection and opening the air vent, and means for moving said valve means to open the vacuum connection and close the air vent.

13. In a fuel feed system, the combination of an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold, of a main supply fuel tank, a fuel container having an air vent, a fuel feed connection between the container and the main tank including a pump, a vacuum connection between the container and the intake manifold, valve means for the auxiliary tank normally closing the vacuum connection and opemng the air vent, means for moving said valve means to open the vacuum connection and close the air vent, and means for automatically returning said valve means to normal position upon release of said valve movin means.

14. n a fuel feed system, the combination of an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold, of a main fuel tank, a fuel container having an air vent and a fuel inlet, a fuel fee'd connection between the container and the main tank including a pump, a vacuum connection between the container and the intake manifold, the pump being located between the container and the main tank, a control valve for the container cooperating with the fuel inlet for automatically closing said inlet when the fuel in the container reaches a predetermined level and for automatically opening said inlet when the fuel drops below said level, valve means in the auxiliary tank normally closing the vacuum connection and opening the air vent, and means for moving said valve means to open the vacuum connection and close the air vent.

15. A cover unit for a fuel container comprising the combination with a cover having a fuel inlet opening, a valve seat, a vacuum inlet opening communicating with the valve seat, and an air vent communicating with said valve seat, of a single valve mounted in said seat and normally closing the vacuum inlet opening and opening the air vent, and manually operable means mounted on the cover to move the valve to open the vacuum inlet 0 ening and to close the air vent.

16. cover unit for a fuel container comprising the combination with a cover having a fuel inlet opening, a valve seat, a vacuum inlet opening communicating with the valve seat, and an air vent communicating with said valve seat, of a single valve mounted in said seat and normally closing the vacuum inlet opening and opening the air vent, manually operable means mounted on the cover to move the valve to open the vacuum inlet opening and to close the air vent, and a spring mounted on the cover and cooperating with the valve to return the same to its normal position upon release of said manually operable means.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

LESTER P. BARLOW. 

